Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser (NSA), has confirmed that a conversation referenced by Nasir El-Rufai, former Kaduna State governor, during a television interview actually took place, a Department of State Services (DSS) witness told a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday.
The witness, identified as “APC” for security reasons, gave the testimony before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik while testifying as the first prosecution witness (PW-1) in the ongoing trial over alleged breaches of national security involving the former governor.
He told the court that investigators, following the broadcast, interviewed the NSA, who verbally acknowledged that he had the said discussion with Musa Aliyu, Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
According to the witness, the development followed the airing of a 43-minute interview granted by El-Rufai to Arise News, which was played in open court after the prosecution tendered a flash drive and certificate of compliance as evidence.
The court admitted the materials, noting that the flash drive was a replacement for a faulty device previously presented.
During the interview, the former governor allegedly claimed that a conversation involving the NSA had been intercepted and forwarded to him, while also arguing that state surveillance of communications is a routine government practice.
The DSS witness said the interview triggered further investigative steps, including the questioning of key individuals connected to the broadcast, among them programme anchor Charles Aniagolu, lawyer Deji Adeyanju, and an Arise TV cameraman.
He told the court that Aniagolu confirmed El-Rufai made reference during the programme to an intercepted conversation, adding that the former governor maintained that such monitoring was not unusual in government practice.
Statements obtained from Aniagolu, Adeyanju, and the cameraman were subsequently tendered in evidence and admitted by the court without objection from the defence.
The witness said investigators concluded that El-Rufai’s remarks amounted to what they described as an “open confession” regarding the interception of a communication involving the NSA, adding that the act was considered capable of undermining national security and formed the basis of the recommendation for prosecution.
The prosecution also tendered a preliminary investigation report, which was admitted as an exhibit.
Under cross-examination by Paul Erokoro (SAN), defence counsel witness admitted that no forensic analysis was conducted on communication devices, nor were IP addresses traced, adding that investigators relied on the NSA’s confirmation of the referenced discussion.
He also acknowledged that El-Rufai did not explicitly state that he personally carried out any interception but maintained that the former governor stood by his account during the broadcast.
When asked whether the remarks could have been political exaggeration, the witness said he believed El-Rufai spoke with intent and could be taken seriously.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter to June 22 and June 23 for continuation of trial.
El-Rufai, who was arraigned on April 23 on a five-count amended charge relating to alleged interception of the NSA’s telephone communications, has pleaded not guilty
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